BANGKOK – Thai villagers and soldiers stationed in the border areas where Thai and Cambodian troops clashed late last month have complained about the smell from the decomposing bodies of Cambodian soldiers left behind.
Second Army Region Commander Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang told Thai media that many Cambodian soldiers’ bodies remain uncollected, left to decay in forested and rugged terrain along the border. Saying it breaches the Geneva Conventions’ requirement to treat the war dead with dignity.
The fighting focused on disputed areas near the ancient Khmer temples of Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear. This became the most deadly encounter between the two nations in more than ten years. Both armies used modern weapons: Thai F-16 fighter jets and Cambodian rocket attacks led to severe losses.
Reports put the death toll at 38, including both soldiers and civilians from each side, and hundreds were injured. A shaky ceasefire arranged by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on 28 July has mostly held, but Cambodia’s handling of its casualties has come under scrutiny.
Thai military sources and images on social media reveal a dangerous and distressing scene along the border. Thai soldiers in the Phu Makua region describe finding many Cambodian bodies, some so decomposed they attracted swarms of insects and strong odours.
Lt Gen Boonsin said, “The Cambodian government has shown a shocking disregard for its soldiers. Leaving the dead like this threatens public health, disrespects the dead, and breaks international law.” Thai officials have called on Cambodia to retrieve its fallen as soon as possible for both health and humanitarian reasons.
International law, especially the Geneva Conventions, expects all fighting parties to search for, collect, and treat the dead with respect, including providing proper burial and identifying remains where possible.
Article 17 of the First Geneva Convention calls for the honourable burial of those killed in conflict and the respectful care of their graves. Cambodia’s delay in recovering bodies appears to breach these responsibilities, leading to claims of neglect and disrespect for its troops.
Cambodian authorities have said little about the crisis. The Ministry of National Defence has not commented on whether recovery efforts are underway. A spokesperson, Maly Socheata, denied any ceasefire breaches but avoided questions about the abandoned bodies, instead accusing Thailand of aggression.
This has fuelled rumours that Cambodia’s army, facing a larger and better-funded Thai force, may be overwhelmed or disorganized. Defence experts highlight Cambodia’s older weapons and smaller military—124,300 troops to Thailand’s 360,000—as possible reasons for its slow response.
Families in Cambodia are heartbroken by the lack of action. Funeral practices rooted in Buddhism are deeply important, and not burying the dead is seen as a strong spiritual offence. Families of the fallen have gathered near the border in the hope of news.
One social media post described grieving relatives waiting for word that never comes. “These are sons, brothers, husbands,” said a villager in Oddar Meanchey province, speaking privately to Thai Media. “They deserve dignity, not to be left to the wild.”
Thailand, in contrast, has released videos showing its efforts to comply with international standards. Footage shows 18 captured Cambodian soldiers being fed and treated well. The Royal Thai Army says it returned two wounded Cambodian soldiers on 2 August, though Cambodia is asking for all captives to be released.
Thai officials claim to follow the Third Geneva Convention on prisoner treatment, but the way the dead are handled remains highly disputed. Reports that Cambodia offered only 400 baht (about $12) per dead soldier as compensation have added to public anger, with many calling it deeply disrespectful.
International rights groups have urged a United Nations-led investigation into possible war crimes, pointing to Cambodia’s use of basic rockets and Thailand’s bombing of civilian areas. Peter Bouckaert of Fortify Rights called the situation “a humanitarian failure on both sides,” but criticized Cambodia’s failure to recover its dead as especially serious.
The United Nations Security Council has received formal complaints from both sides, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of border violations and Cambodia condemning Thai “aggression.” Thailand’s refusal to accept peace talks led by external countries like the US, China or Malaysia has complicated efforts to end the crisis.
The conflict dates back to a long-standing border disagreement, made worse by nationalism and disputes over historic temple sites.
The International Court of Justice gave the Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, but the areas around it remain contested and have led to repeated clashes since 2008. This latest round started after a landmine blast injured five Thai soldiers. Both countries blame each other for starting the violence.
While talks try to maintain a fragile peace, the bodies of Cambodian soldiers left on the battlefield remain a painful sign of the war’s true cost. For families desperate for closure and respect for their loved ones, this delay undermines the ceasefire and the basic standards of humanity set out in international law.
Without urgent steps to recover the dead, this breach of the Geneva Conventions could do lasting damage to already strained ties between Cambodia and Thailand.
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